Report: Eagles May Be Interested In Trading Up For LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr.

During the Monday pre draft press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert unsurprisingly ruled out the team trading up in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Colbert did say, however, that trading down was an option and even went as far as to say he thinks it’s “a real possibility.”

So, how far would Colbert be willing to move down? When you take into account that he said there were at least 19 players the team would be happy with getting in the first round, one could speculate that if three quarterbacks were to go prior to their turn to pick, that moving down seven spots could possibly be an option.

Colbert talked at depth on Monday about what goes into trading down.

“When you trade back, you want to see how many places you can go back, what you’re going to get in return and what are the odds that I’m going to get that player or that group of players,” said Colbert.. “If we trade back three spots, very rarely will you do it without three people you would take (still on the board). You want to be in a no-lose situation. Could you roll the dice and go 67 percent? Sure, but as a general rule you never want to trade yourself away from a specific group of players.”

The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold the 22nd overall selection and on Monday, Peter King of Sports Illustratedwrote in his Monday Morning Quarterback column that the Eagles may consider moving up to the middle of round one to draft LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Keep hearing they want in on the prime receiver action, and the receiver they want could be LSU’s Odell Beckham, who can play outside, inside in the slot and as a returner. But the Eagles would have to trade up, and GM Howie Roseman is doing his due diligence, talking to at least two teams in the mid-round neighborhood, when Beckham would likely go. But the cost could be too rich for the Eagles’ blood. They may have to settle for Marqise Lee, who would be some consolation prize.

Colbert did say on Monday that he only uses the trade value chart as a guide for what other teams might be thinking. With that being said, the trade chart shows that the Eagles would be shorting the Steelers 110 points by only giving them their first and third round picks to move up seven spots. Would that be enough for Colbert? I kind of doubt it, but stranger things have happened.

Being as the Eagles only have six picks as of right now, I kind of doubt they would also want to unload their first and second round picks to move up seven spots, even if it meant they get the Steelers first of two fifth round picks as part of the trade.

This is fun to think about, but once again it shows how predicting trades on draft day is pretty useless. At least we don’t have much longer to wait to find out whether or not the Steelers will be staying put in round one or moving down.

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This helps confirm that beckham jr really isn’t a reach with the 15th pick. Strange for the eagles because they have shown a lot of interest in big wr’s.

westcoasteeler

Move down. More picks. Please.

Matt Manzo

22s as far back as I’d wanna go. Used to think Fuller and Shazier would go late 1 but now I’m starting to think they go earlier? At 22 I’d be happy with Fuller, Shazier, Benjamin, Tuitt(maybe too high for Tuitt?). JMatthews, Nix and Mosley would be fine too. I’m starting to hear ARobinson moving into the late 1st round. He and Matthews were my rnd 2 WRs so I’d be kind of ok with taking either one at 22, but it feels too high.

steelster

JMatthews has been moving back in mock drafts and I’m not sure why. At 22, I like shazier a great deal and a guy I would start to consider at that point is Latimer.

steelster

who is blair ?

Aric Brown

In my opinion Jordan Matthews is the 2nd best receiver in the draft

steelster

You know he has a above average drop rate and average red zone production. He did however break all those sec records.

NW86

With everyone talking about the depth of the draft class and looking to move down, but not that many looking to move up, I don’t think anyone is going to get the full value based on the trade value chart for moving down. I would say a 3:22 would be worth the 7 spots in this situation.

steelster

Yes that would be good but would the eagles give up that pick. They only have six picks in a deep draft.

Matt Manzo

I could be confusing him with someone else but I think he was the victim of multiple qbs and shoddy at that?

Matt Manzo

LB from Cinncy. Dave Te Thomas said he would make us forget about missing out on Burfict. BUT! He’s got some injury concern and I’m not sure about his pass defense?

Matt Manzo

I forgot about Latimer! You’re right!

Matt Manzo

If we stayed at 15 and could get Matthews in 2 is be soooo happy!

steelster

ok thanks I will check him out.

steelster

I like Latimer because I think he is a safe pick. Very few weaknesses in his game and enjoys blocking. The steelers have a history of liking blocking wr’s

steelster

Yes Matthews or adams round 2 I would be happy. I keep going back in forth on if they should take a cb in round 1 or round 3. All I know is that cb has to be ready to start in 2015. I would think a 1st round corner(Fuller) would be ready to go in 2015 where as a 3rd round corner may be more of a project like previous 3rd round corners and not ready to start in 2015.

Big White

…….and this is why you bring Odell Beckham in for a visit when you have no intention of drafting Odell Beckham.

Big White

comment of the millennium.

steelster

what ?

ApexSteel

You act like we didn’t have 30 of them…

Kenneth Wilt

I think this might be the point when Colbert was saying that the QBs make a huge difference to this draft. Eagles are at 22. That is down 7 spots, but if there truly are 19 guys they like, it takes 3 players who they DON’T like going in the first 21 picks to make it worth our while to move down.

When it comes to trade value, I could potentially see them throwing in a 5th or something in order to make the trade happen or maybe they throw a pick to us in NEXT year’s draft in order to make it happen.

CW

With their lack of picks, I can’t really see the Eagles making that sort of move with the Steelers. Their offer would be too light for the Steelers and probably could be trumped by someone else very easily.

Could see a smaller step back being in play with the Dolphins or Cardinals if one of the top notch tackle prospects are still on the board. And an extra third round pick is about what that step back with worth. Both teams still need more talent at the tackle position even with their free agency signings and a small jump up could avoid losing out to the Baltimore Ravens who also need another good tackle.

Besides moving from 15th overall to 19th or 20th overall with 19 players identified as potential first round picks and assuming that 1.) none of the 19 are quarterbacks and 2.) at least one pick before the 20th pick is a quarterback, by default the Steelers get at least one of those 19 prospects they have targeted in the first round.

pat

You are right if im not mistaken he played with 4 different qbs and in the sec he was at times doubled and game plans made specifically for him Mathews would be great to have

steelster

He might be talking about Latimer also. They used 2 qb’s during games.

pat

Yep didnt think about that id be happy with both probably higher on Mathews being that I live 30 min from Vandy and the SEC records he broke either way im ready for Thursday

steelster

Yes I just hope they take a wr by the second round. Do you like adams at all?

JAMESH

Seems like there have been more “leaks” and “reports” this year than ever before. Some may be accurate, some speculation, and some planted subterfuge. But since nobody can accurately predict what the crazy/stupid things Cleveland and Oakland are going to do, all bets are off on what follows.

steelster

Yes I agree it’s one big game, who knows? For the first time in some time I’m concerned about the browns with all those picks. Sammy Watkins and Josh Gordon would be a tough duo to stop.

Matt Manzo

I like DAdams! A little tougher than Matthews. I just see some Lynn Swann in Matthews! I love Adams production! It’s turning into a battle between Matthews, Robinson, Adams and Latimore as WRs in rnd 2. Personal choices are Matthews and Robinson but Adams and Latimer have that toughness Hines had!

Matt Manzo

I think we should go CB in 1 and 4 or 5. We can find DLs and WRs in 2 and 3. Linebacker is the position that might mess that up? If we go LB in 1 or 2, we’ll miss out on a top notch CB or WR.

steelster

yes and this is why I like them taking a wr in the second round versus a cb. One of these wr’s will be sitting there at pick 46.

steelster

yes I agree, but in round 2 if Matthews and Tuitt are there who do you pick that is a tough choice.

Matt Manzo

That’s a tough one! How close do you rate Tuitt with guys like Urban, Clarke and Hart? They could be had at 3 if we went WR in 2? Another argument for Tuitt is there’s WRs to be had in round 3, but they have bad hands.

steelster

exactly, with the bad hands part and I think that is why you go with Matthews in the second. Take Clarke in the third.

Matt Manzo

There are 2 WRs I like in the mid/later rounds. Enunwa and Janis would be awesome, but I don’t feel comfortable waiting or hoping they’re still around. I say grab WR early and forget and forget about it!

steelster

If Enunwa is on the board in the 6th round they should take him. Why not double dip at wr and cb if they can. Brown,Matthews, Wheaton and Enunma would be a nice young set of receivers.

cp72

He’s built like a tree stump. Seems to be a real thumper.

cp72

I like bold statements…I disagree but I like ypur conviction.

tricitysteel

No one seems to be mentioning Martavis Bryant for the Steelers. Has he fallen out of favor with people on the board?

Crazy Bone

I can’t believe the Eagles are going to trade up with only 6 picks. You really can’t believe much of what comes out these last few days.

bonairsfavoriteson

Colbert said there were 19 players he would be comfortable taking at 15, so if he traded down, he sure won’t go past 18 or 19. Forget all the nonsense of trading with the niners or some one from 20 or later, Probably going to make the pick at 15.

Big White

Steelers were never going to risk a #15 pick on a guy who may not have even been the best receiver on his team. Perhaps in the high 40’s for round 2, but you bring in the guy just in case someone behind you wants to sell the family farm on him and trade up, i.e. the eagles or whomever.

Not necessarily, because at least two and possibly three QBs will go. Colbert was probably excluding them from the list, and perhaps the safeties as well. But your point is otherwise well taken. The Steelers probably wouldn’t trade back beyond, say, 22 or so.

StrengthOfVictory

Character issues have been raised more and more of late. I was higher on Bryant a few months back, but it might be hard for the Steelers to risk taking a troublemaker.